Habitat: Prefer elevated and open nesting sites free from predatory mammals. Site must provide feeding ground/fish supply within 12 – miles of nest. Gravitate towards shallow fishing grounds, including rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs and marshes. Known to build nests on tops of pedestrian bridges, telephone poles, and flat platforms, as well as live/dead trees.

Range: Widely distributed raptor found throughout U.S. Regularly observed in Clearwater Basin and throughout Northern Rockies, particularly in summer (breeding season) due to proximity/abundance of prey.

Reproduction: Nests generally built from sticks and lined with bark, sod, vines and grasses. Males collect most of materials; females arrange it. Tend to return to same nest year after year. Clutch size 1 – 4 eggs; incubation period 36 – 42 days.